Rolling through the chicken feed aisle at our local farm-supply store can feel a little overwhelming. The “chicken diet” options have come a long way since I first brought home 6 broiler chickens when I was 14 and a bag of cracked corn.   Our local feed store not only carries several brands of chicken […]

By: Candess Zona-Mendola The CDC announced this week that they are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Reading infections linked to raw turkey products. There are 90 confirmed human cases of illness, and 40 of those have been hospitalized. People are sick in 26 states. Confirmed outbreak Illnesses started on dates from November 20, 2017, […]

By: Candess Zona-Mendola Salmonella is to chickens as E. coli is to beef and Vibrio is to seafood. They are bacteria that are typically partnered with a particular animal or group of animals. But did you know chickens have another bacterium that is actually more common than Salmonella? It’s Campylobacter. In fact, Campylobacter is the […]

I originally bought this small manufactured cool to be our Silkie pen. But after seeing how handy it is with our teenage chickens I may decide to buy another one for next year’s teens. What is a grow out pen? A holding place for chickens after they’ve left the brooder but before they’re old enough […]

The Man: Meet Bruce. Bruce is a 4year old Lab/Pug mix. Bruce has a lot of energy, he’s super sweet, loves to play, is always down to cuddle, but doesn’t listen and has killed chickens before. Bruce uses his super speed to patrol all backyard activities. While he spares the neighborhood rabbits, his territory remains […]

How to help combat the summer heat in your flock? Chickens, like so many other animals, have a hard time dealing with drastic climates. Whether extreme cold or heat there are a few things you can do to help them be a little less miserable. Try adding a few of these DIY projects into your […]

Over the years, in my experience keeping chickens, we’ve done both free ranging and keeping them in a confined coop. My preferred method is to let them free range, but right now I have our flock separated in pens by breed for breeding purposes.   What is free ranging?   Free ranging can have a […]

I raised Blue Laced Red Wyandottes for about 10 years and they are still one of my favorite chickens.   I would still have them, but precious coop space being what it is…I’m trying to concentrate on APA recognized breeds and unfortunately the Blue Laced Red color is not APA recognized.   I was prompted […]

Reduce•Reuse•Recycle Wanna make tote bags from your feed bags? It can be any feed bags you have available, chicken, dog, sheep, rabbit, goat, horse, or even cat. Here is easy step by step directions. 1.) I wanted my finished bag 13″ tall. So, I measured 13” + 2″ for top hem + 4″ for a total […]

By: Candess Zona-Mendola When it comes to raising chickens, bacteria are always a concern. Bacteria can sicken entire flocks, as well as the people who are tenderly caring for them. The problem with bacteria is that they are everywhere – from the soil in the ground to the intestines of birds. And no matter what […]